You’re not suffering from a creative block
You’re not suffering from a creative block; you’re just too narrow-minded. The reason? Well, it's your responsibility to know.
When we think we can't come up with any good ideas, it might be because we're not seeing the big, wide world around us.
If you look out of only one window, you'll see only one part of your backyard. But if you move around the house and look out different windows, you'll see all sorts of things—the garden, the street, maybe even a park or a beautiful sunset. Each view gives you new ideas and feelings.
Frida Kahlo said she paints her feelings and thoughts. She reminds us that what we create comes from how we see and feel about the world. If we're feeling stuck, we may need to change how we look at things around us.
Julia Cameron, who helps people regain their creative light, suggests going on "Artist's Dates" yourself. These could be anything like visiting a park, checking out a new street, visiting a museum while listening to a new genre of music, or reading a type of book you never read. Doing new things or simply stepping back from the block gives you more ideas because you see more of the world.
So, when you feel like you can't think of anything to create, you need to explore more, see things differently, and open your eyes. Really.
Here are some ideas that you can implement at least once a week:
Take a walk in nature: it inspires new ideas and offers a new perspective.
Try a new artistic activity: if you usually paint, try pottery or cake decoration, as I randomly did a while ago. Changing the medium can unlock new forms of expression.
Keep a dream journal: write down your dreams as soon as you wake up. They can be rich sources of inspiration. I’ve talked about the power of dreams here.
Practice free writing exercises: set a timer for 10 minutes and write whatever comes to mind without judgment.
Practice meditation or mindfulness: these practices help to calm the mind, allowing creative ideas to surface naturally. Here’s a 10-minute practice.
Brainstorm with friends: sometimes, a conversation can be enough to spark a new idea or solution to a creative block.
Listen to new music or different genres: music can influence mood and stimulate creativity. Go for a Discovery playlist on Spotify.
Set creative limitations: give yourself a challenge, such as creating something using only a few materials or in a short period of time. Limitations can, paradoxically, unleash creativity.
It's not about finding new things to add to your work. It's about changing the way you see the world. Ask yourself: What am I trying to understand here? What I cannot see? Once you start looking at life differently, you'll find that you were never really stuck; you just didn't have the understanding of something you have to find awareness for.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working." - Pablo Picasso
There are endless possibilities inside you.
